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NMC registration + sponsorship

Nursing jobs with UK visa sponsorship.

International nurses remain the single largest sponsored profession in the UK. Alongside a Certificate of Sponsorship you will need NMC registration, which usually means passing the CBT overseas and the OSCE after arrival — most sponsors fund both.

Typical salary

£29,970 – £36,483 (NHS Band 5, plus London weighting where applicable)

Visa route

Health and Care Worker visa

Occupation codes

SOC 2231 (nurses)

Who sponsors

NHS trusts, private hospitals, nursing homes and specialist mental-health units

Roles we place

  • Adult nurse — medical, surgical, ITU, theatre
  • Mental health nurse (RMN)
  • Paediatric nurse
  • Nursing home / care-home registered nurse
  • Community and district nursing

NHS trusts nationwide plus large private and independent healthcare groups. See our recruitment services or the destinations we recruit for.

Requirements for sponsorship

  • A nursing degree or diploma recognised by the NMC.
  • IELTS Academic 7.0 (6.5 writing) or OET grade B.
  • CBT (Computer Based Test) passed before travel; OSCE within 12 weeks of arrival.
  • At least 12 months' post-registration clinical experience for most trusts.
  • A CoS from a licensed Health and Care sponsor.

Full eligibility rules, salary thresholds and the sponsor register are covered in our complete UK visa sponsorship guide. Benchmark your offer against the UK salary guide.

How the application works

  1. Eligibility check. We review your qualification, English test and NMC application stage.
  2. NMC application and CBT. Open your NMC account, submit qualifications and book the CBT in your country.
  3. Trust interview. Clinical and values-based interview, usually over video.
  4. CoS and visa. Your sponsor issues the CoS; you apply for the Health and Care Worker visa.
  5. OSCE and PIN. Complete OSCE at a UK test centre, then receive your NMC PIN and move to Band 5.

Frequently asked questions

Can overseas nurses get UK visa sponsorship without OSCE?

Yes. Most sponsors recruit nurses before OSCE. You start as a pre-registration nurse on a band 4 salary and move to Band 5 once your NMC PIN is issued, usually within 8–12 weeks of arrival.

Which English test do UK sponsors accept for nurses?

IELTS Academic 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing, or OET grade B in each sub-test, are both accepted by the NMC.

Do sponsors pay for CBT, OSCE and flights?

Many NHS trusts and larger private providers fund the OSCE, first-month accommodation and flights. Terms vary by employer and are confirmed before you accept an offer.

Apply through a licensed sponsor

Send us your CV and we'll match you with UK employers actively sponsoring in this field.

Register with Gobblex

Other sponsorship routes

Same process, different profession — compare the salary bands and requirements.

New to the process? Start with the complete UK visa sponsorship guide or browse all sponsorship routes.